Newport News man found guilty in brutal beating

NEWPORT NEWS — A Newport News man was found guilty in the brutal beating of a 50-year-old woman last year.

Chad Music, 28, was convicted of felony malicious wounding for assaulting the woman in March of last year on Arden Drive. The victim suffered two broken eye sockets, a broken nose and a broken jaw.

Police received a call on March 2 about a man who was banging on someone's door. When police arrived, they found a woman "suffering from significant facial trauma," according to the criminal complaint filed in Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Her jaw was damaged so severely that a surgery date was scheduled shortly after the attack.

"The victim was known to the patrol officers for having a long history of domestic violence, in which she had been hit by ... Chad Anthony Music," according to the criminal complaint.

A witness told police that Music told her he hated the victim.

"Chad Music called this witness and told her that he wasn't responsible for this and it will be like last time. 'I'll go to jail for a few months and get out,' " according to the criminal complaint. " 'Try to put me in the jail. I'll get out, find you and kill you.' "

Music was found guilty following a bench trial last week before substitute Judge Randolph T. West. West also found Music guilty of attempt to induce false testimony and inducing false testimony. Those charges were in reference to two instances where Music told the victim to change her testimony against him, according to court documents.

In a May 2013 letter, Music wrote: "If you tell the court it wasn't me they have to drop the charges and you can't get in trouble," according to a criminal complaint filed in Newport News Circuit Court. In a phone call a few weeks after the attack, Music told the victim to "say it wasn't me," the criminal complaint states.

Music has been charged with assaulting the same woman three times in the past, but the charges were either dismissed or dropped, according to court documents.

During a June 2011 incident, the woman told police that Music pushed her. Two other people told police that Music slapped and bit them during the same incident, according to the complaint. Police charged Music with assault and battery. The charge was dismissed during a preliminary hearing.

Three emergency protective orders have been issued against Music since 2008 related to incidents involving the woman, court documents show.

In August 2009, an emergency protective order was issued against Music following an incident where police say the victim told them that Music "punched her in the face and kicked her in the ribs," a criminal complaint states. Music was found not guilty.

In 2004, Music was charged with assault and battery in connection with an incident with the same woman, but the charge was nolle prossed, meaning the prosecutor dropped it but reserved the right to refile the offense if more evidence became available.